Of the many thousands of offices, shops and factories that were gutted by fire last year, more than half probably had fire extinguishers installed. Clearly, possessing fire safety equipment isn’t enough; understanding fire is just as essential.

The Fire Tetrahedron This is a model used by the fire fighting and protection industry to identify the four major components required to start a fire.

Heat Fire cannot begin or continue without a sufficient amount of heat. It is necessary therefore, to reduce the amount of heat in case of a fire. This can be done with the application of extinguishants like water and certain types of powder and gas.

FuelWithout fuel, a fire will stop. When fire consumes all the burnable fuel, it will extinguish itself without external aid. Unfortunately it is neither safe, nor practical to rely on this in case of a potentially large fire. Fuel can be rendered harmless by using chemical

To prevent common fire accidents in your home, just pause to think before you act. This is the most effective safety measure you could adopt.

Do not overload your electrical sockets, as it causes overheating, and nine times out of ten, eventually leads to fire. So get your local certified electrician to add plug points and capacity as you add appliances.

Gas leaks are another major fire risk in homes. If you smell cooking gas even faintly, dto not light a match or touch an electical switch. Immediately open all windows in the area and move yourself and all family members to a safe distance.

Always put out cigarettes and matches in ashtrays. Filling ashtrays with a little water is a good way to ensure that all burning ends are fully extinguished. As much as possible, try not to smoke in bed.

Try and keep the area around your ACs clear of furniture and carpets. If there is a short circuit, the spark may drop on any nearby combustible material, smoulder and start a fire.

Never use wet hands to put switches on and off. It can cause a short circuit and much worse, a lethal electrical shock.USE STICKERS LIKE THIS NEXT TO SWITCHES IN YOUR KITCHEN AND BATHROOM TILL THE HABIT SETS.

Always keep the telephone numbers of the local fire brigade and other emergency numbers in plain view, so that your family can access them in a fire crisis

Fire Safety at your workplace

Preventing a fire is just a matter of taking a few necessary precautions.

Do not overload your electrical sockets, as it causes overheating, and nine times out of ten, enentually leads to fire. So get your local certified electrician to add plug points and capacity as you add appliances.

Never keep flammable or combustible materials close to bright halogen bulbs.

Always clean any spilt fuel after filling a generator. Check for spills and leaks.

Make your workspace a non-smoking zone. If necessary, allocate a small wellventilated area for smoking. Provide sufficient ashtrays filled with a little water to ensure that the cigarette butts are extinguished.

Organise regular drills on fire fighting and map out a clear evacuation plan.